
Energy at the Surface of the Earth
An Introduction to the Energetics of Ecosystems
Free Global Shipping
No minimum orderDescription
Energy at the Surface of the Earth: An Introduction to the Energetics of Ecosystems presents way of looking at the manner in which the biological, physical, and cultural systems that mantle the landmasses of our planet receive, transform, and give off energy, which is an essential condition of existence that takes many forms. Energy conversions establish the climate in which these systems operate. The principal forms of energy that are converted at the ecosystem scale include radiant, latent, mechanical, chemical and fossil, and thermal. The book begins with radiant energy absorbed by ecosystems—a phenomenon that is independent of their surface temperature and that can be looked on as a burden or a gift, depending on circumstances. An increase in such absorption raises surface temperature, as described in the fulcrum chapter of the book, Chapter VIII. This increase in turn sets into action outflows of energy that by the first law of thermodynamics are equal in energy units, although not necessarily equal in quality to the inflows. The final chapters deal with vertical stratification and areal contrasts in energy budgets, the augmented energy budget of the city, and the responses that serve to keep the budget balanced.
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter I Introduction
The Energy Budget
The Locus of Energy Transformation
Energy in Ecosystems
References
Chapter II Surface Characteristics of Ecosystems
Ecosystem Size and Structure
Factors in Coupling of an Ecosystem with the Sun
Radiative Coupling with the Atmosphere
Coupling of an Ecosystem with the Atmosphere by Turbulence
Coupling with the Substrate
Ecosystems at the Active Surface of the Earth
References
Chapter III Direct Solar Radiation
Nature and Significance of the Solar Beam
Geometry of the Solar Beam
Incidence of the Solar Beam on Ecosystems under the Changeable Atmosphere
Incidence of the Solar Beam on Ecosystems of Different Attitudes
Spatial Patterns and Ecological Consequences
References
Chapter IV Diffuse Solar Radiation
The Diffuse Flux Generated by Rayleigh Scattering
Diffuse Radiation under a Hazy Atmosphere
Diffuse Radiation under a Cloudy Atmosphere
Spectral Composition of the Diffuse Flux
Variations over Time
Spatial Variation
References
Chapter V Total Incoming Solar Radiation
The Relative Contributions of the Component Fluxes
Flux Densities of Total Solar Radiation Incident on Ecosystems
Spectral Composition of the Incident Solar Flux
Determining the Combined Solar Fluxes on Horizontal Surfaces
Variations in Total Solar Radiation over Time
Spatial Differences in Total Solar Radiation
References
Chapter VI Incoming Longwave Radiation
Magnitude and Significance of the Flux
Radiation under a Cloudless Sky
Sources of Variation under Clouds
Measurement and Estimation
Variations over Time
Spatial Variations in Incoming Longwave Radiation
References
Chapter VII Radiant Energy Absorbed by Ecosystems
Ecosystem Characteristics That Affect Absorption of Radiant Energy
Geometric Components of Radiant Energy
Spectral Composition of Radiant Energy Absorbed by Ecosystems
Spectral Patterns of Absorptivity Coefficient
Variations in Radiant-Energy Intake over Time
Spatial Patterns of Absorbed Radiant Energy
The Temperature-Independent Intake of Energy
References
Chapter VIII Surface Temperature of Ecosystems
Defining Surface Temperature T0
Significance of Surface Temperature
Determining Surface Temperature
Variations over Time
Spatial Patterns
References
Chapter IX Longwave Radiation Emitted by Ecosystems
The Longwave Flux
Role in Ecosystem Energy Budgets
Determination of Upward Longwave Radiation
Variations in the Upward Flux of Longwave Radiation
References
Chapter X Resultants of the Upward and Downward Radiation Fluxes
The Net Exchange of Longwave Radiation between Ecosystem and Atmosphere
Factors in the Net Exchange of Energy by Longwave Radiation
Combining All the Radiation Fluxes: The Net All-Wave Deficit or Surplus
Variations in Net All-Wave Radiation over Time
Spatial Contrasts in Net All-Wave Radiation
References
Chapter XI Fixing of Carbon by Ecosystems
Gross Primary Production
Net Primary Production
Influences on Productivity and Translocation
References
Chapter XII The Release of Carbon Fixed in Ecosystems
Biological Energy Conversions
Ecosystems in Steady State
Energy Conversion by Fire
References
Chapter XIII Broad-Scale Transformations of Fossil Energy
Fossil Energy in the Management of Extensively Exploited Ecosystems
Fossil-Energy Conversions in Farm Operations
Fossil Energy in Ecosystems and Mosaics
Energy in Circulation Systems
References
Chapter XIV Phase Changes of Water in Ecosystems: I. Freezing and Thawing
Presence and Characteristics of Snow Cover in Ecosystems
The Energy Budget of Melting Snow Cover
Effects of Terrain and Weather on the Energy Budget
Thawing of Soil and Ice
Freezing
References
Chapter XV Phase Changes of Water in Ecosystems: II. Vaporization
Energy Conversion by Vaporization
Ecosystem Characteristics
Atmospheric Removal of Vapor from Ecosystems
Variations in Latent-Heat Conversions
References
Chapter XVI The Flux of Sensible Heat from Ecosystems
Ecosystem Characteristics
The Atmospheric Environment as a Sink or Source for Sensible Heat
Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relationships
Variations in the Removal of Sensible Heat from an Ecosystem
Spatial Contrasts
References
Chapter XVII Substrate Heat Flux in Terrestrial Ecosystems
Role of the Soil in the Ecosystem
Thermal Diffusivity and Admittance
Heat Storage in the Daily Cycle
Aperiodic Variations
Heat Storage in the Annual Cycle
Spatial Patterns of Soil-Heat Flux
References
Chapter XVIII Substrate Energy Storage in Aquatic Ecosystems and Its Place in Their Energy Budgets
Ecosystem Structure
Coupling with the Sun
Coupling with the Atmosphere
Advection of Upstream Heat or Cold in Ecosystem Energy Budgets
Variations in the Energy Budget
References
Chapter XIX Potential and Kinetic Energy in Ecosystems
Potential Energy in Ecosystems
Potential Energy in Ecosystem Environments
Kinetic Energy of Water in Ecosystems
Atmospheric Kinetic Energy in Ecosystems
Variations of Potential and Kinetic Energy
References
Chapter XX Energy Budgets at Different Depths in Ecosystems
The Ecosystem as Environment of Its Members
Radiant-Energy Absorption at Different Levels
Ventilation
Vertical Profiles
Substrate Energy
Stratification of Energy Budgets
References
Chapter XXI Ecosystem Contrasts
The Origins of Contrast
Contrasts in Temperature-Independent Fluxes
Contrasts in Surface Temperature
Contrasts in Emitted Radiation and Energy Conversion
Contrasts in Ecosystem Couplings
Contrasts in the Outputs from Ecosystems
Time Variations in Contrast
The Variegated Mantle of the Earth
References
Chapter XXII Energy Conversions at Nodes
Points of Energy Concentration
Characteristics of the Urban Interface
Modified Radiant-Energy Intake
Fossil-Energy Augmentation
Temperature-Dependent Energy Fluxes
Responses of Urban Ecosystems
References
Chapter XXIII Integrating the Energy Fluxes
Models of Ecosystem Energy Budgets
Effects of Changes in Radiant-Energy Intake
Effects of Changes in Surface Characteristics
Effects of Changes in Atmospheric Conditions
The Structure of Ecosystem Energy Budgets
Conclusion
References
Index
Product details
- No. of pages: 536
- Language: English
- Copyright: © Academic Press 1981
- Published: May 28, 1981
- Imprint: Academic Press
- eBook ISBN: 9781483257464
About the Author
David H. Miller
About the Editors
J. Van Mieghem
Affiliations and Expertise
Royal Belgian Meteorological Institute, Uccle, Belgium
Anton L. Hales
Ratings and Reviews
There are currently no reviews for "Energy at the Surface of the Earth"